Obituary of Bill Magee

William 'Bill' Price Magee -

It is with great sadness that we grieve the death of William 'Bill' Price Magee on July 4, 2020 who passed away at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance at the age of 86.

He was predeceased by the untimely death of his beloved wife and best friend Elizabeth Anne Magee and his older sister Sylvia (John) Hamilton. He is survived by his son Gordon (Doreen) Magee of Windsor and his daughter Heather Magee (Romelda Morson) of Toronto. Loving grandfather to Louis Magee, Erin Magee, and Emilie Round (Reza Aein). Great grandfather to Kenna and Koen Aein. Survived by his beloved sister Anne (late Ron) Pigott.

After attending Victoria College (now a University) affiliated with the University of Toronto, Bill received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and then went on to Osgoode Law School for four years receiving an "LLB" (now called a Doctor of Jurisprudence) and was called to the bar in 1959 at age 25.

He and his wife Anne moved that year to Chatham where he first practiced law with the firm of Steele and Perkins and after a short period with the firm of Steele and Magee for some period of time until the death of Mr. Steele. Thereafter he practiced as a sole practitioner until 1999 when he retired after 40 years at age 65. 

In addition to a very busy law practice, Bill also became very involved with community service starting with the Red Feather Fund Raising Campaign (now the "United Way") where he successfully headed up the Professional Division. He then went on to be a Board Member and Past President of the Chatham Family YMCA, the Chatham-Kent Branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Kent Law Association and the Howard J. Rees Foundation which he helped to found and served as a Board Member for over 32 years. 

He was also very proud to be asked to join the Rotary Club of Chatham of which he was a member for over 40 years. During that period he served in several positions. First as a Chairman of several committees, the most amorous being the Chairman of the Rotary Childrens' Easter Seal Fund Raising Committee to aid the physically challenged children in the Chatham area. He was elected to the Club's Board of Directors and moved up to become President in the Rotary year (July 1st to June 30th) 1981 - 1982. Later he served for a number of years as Secretary of the Rotary Club of Chatham Service Fund, a private foundation and registered charity. Bill was also a three-time Paul Harris Fellow and a Benefactor of Rotary International Endowment Fund (Canada). He was involved in sports, even in elementary school. In high school during all five years he played on its football and track teams as well as playing a few years on a team in the Toronto Hockey League. At University, he played lacrosse for Victoria College in the inter-mural league. At both high school and university, he won his prized athletic letter. 

But as he moved into adulthood it was skiing and tennis that he loved best, becoming an advanced skier and a good tennis player. As a skier, with the accompaniment of his wife, he was able to take ski trips to Quebec, Vermont, B.C., Alberta and Colorado as well as many ski weekends at a good friends' chalet at Blue Mountain near Collingwood. Gord and Heather both became good skiers and went with him on some trips especially to Blue Mountain. 

As a tennis player he started at a club in Toronto and in Chatham played in a Men's League at the Wheel's and the Chatham Tennis Club. 

Bill also very much enjoyed canoeing at the family cottage in Muskoka and the Thames River adjacent to his and Anne's home. For about 8 years he and his son Gord would canoe-camp in different routes in Algonquin Park for about five days each. 

In Bill's later years he took great pleasure in advocating for others through his writings in the editorial page of the local papers.

Cremation has taken place and a private family funeral service will take place at McKinlay Funeral Home with a private interment at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

Donations made in memory of Bill to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Pet and Wildlife Rescue would be appreciated.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com .

McKinlay Funeral Home, 459 St. Clair Street, Chatham, 519-351-2040